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Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World
Brown University
Box 1837 / 60 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3188
Fax: (401) 863-9423
[email protected]
Bayt al-hikma was the royal library of the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mum in Baghdad in 832. Its name literally means "house of wisdom." It was a main center of translations and study of Greek philosophical and scientific texts, as well as a home for many Arabic manuscripts.
It is important for a number of reasons. It showed the close relationship between royal patronage and intellectual pursuits (similar to how an observatory was built for Omar Khayyum in Isfahan in Samarkand). It is also indicative of the importance placed on learning, philosophy and the sciences. The path of rational philosophy in the tradition of Aristotle and Plato was highly valued.
Posted at Apr 10/2009 01:20PM:
ian: Also about the growing trade and appreciation of books as a luxury commodity.